Child welfare system inequities experienced by disabled parents: towards a conceptual framework

Abstract

Parents with disabilities and their families experience pervasive inequities within the child welfare system. However, existing conceptual frameworks do not adequately explain or address the unique needs and experiences of parents with disabilities and their families involved with the child welfare system. Accordingly, we present a conceptual framework that incorporates empirical findings from existing literature while integrating and expanding extant frameworks and models. The conceptual framework, which is aimed at being a starting point from which to investigate child welfare system inequities experienced by disabled parents, includes interrelated factors measured at the contextual, institutional, and individual levels. The paper discusses areas for further research, challenges for researchers, and implications for reducing child welfare system inequities.

Points of interest

• Parents with disabilities are more likely to be involved with the child welfare system, have their parental rights terminated, and receive inadequate services and supports from the child welfare system, compared to other parents.

• This paper offers a conceptual framework that identifies factors that impact the inequities experienced by disabled parents who are involved with the child welfare system.

• Researchers can use the conceptual framework to study the reasons that parents with disabilities have worse child welfare system outcomes than other parents.

• Policymakers and child welfare professionals can use the conceptual framework to identify ways to prevent parents with disabilities from being unnecessarily involved with the child welfare system and ensure that parents with disabilities who are involved with the child welfare system are treated fairly.

Keywords:

• Child welfare
• parents with disabilities
• disproportionality
• disparities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Award Number: 90DPGE0001 and The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University.